Medicaid fraud costs taxpayers money, and to crack down on this crime, Governor Kathleen Sebelius today signed a bill that expands the scope of the current fraud law.

“Medicaid provides health care for poor and disabled Kansans, and that’s a critical lifeline. But we want to make sure providers and patients aren’t taking advantage of our generosity,” said Sebelius. “This new law gives us another tool to use as we seek to prevent and prosecute fraud.”

The measure, HB 2893, expands a crime dealing with Medicaid fraud to clarify that the prohibition against receiving illegal bribes, kickbacks and rebates applies to providers as well as recipients. It also would prohibit agreements to divide or share Medicaid funds illegally obtained, prohibit tracking or selling Medicaid numbers for money or other remuneration, and expands a provision of the crime to cover entities as well as persons.